Sound Strategist

Artist Advocate

Country Music Connector

Michael is a Country Music executive, blending his deep Southern roots with a career in music, talent, and technology.

Michael is driven by a deep conviction that country music has the power to tell stories that unite diverse voices and resonate at the core of the human experience. He has held key roles at Apple Music, Creative Artists Agency and iHeartMedia. He lives in Nashville with his wife, Cara, and finds joy in playing the drums, casting a line into quiet waters, and embracing the peace of nature.

What are you listening to?

My never-ending Bluegrass journey

New Country sounds playing in my Bronco

BETWEEN TWO WORLDS

Michael Bryan is a man of two worlds: the soulful, fog-draped mountains of East Tennessee and the Carolinas where his roots run deep, and the buzzing streets of Nashville, NYC, and LA, where he's spent years shaping the soundscape of modern music.

Raised in the rhythms of the South, Michael was steeped in the sounds that would later define his career. From marching band to jazz kit, he found his tempo and infatuation early on. He cut his teeth in the family business- his father’s small AM radio station- where he learned to coax magic out of the airwaves, spinning records and weaving tales that resonated far beyond the mountain’s borders.

These early days, where he became captivated by the mystery and mastery of radio, laid the groundwork for a career that would blend the traditional with the innovative, propelling him into leading roles across music, media, entertainment, and technology.

Michael stays true to the values instilled in him by his upbringing: a blend of straightforwardness, creative curiosity, and a deep respect for the craft of music. Whether he's discussing the latest tech trends or reminiscing about the first time he heard a banjo sing, Michael’s approach is always grounded in authenticity.

He resides in Nashville with his wife, Cara, and enjoys visits from his daughters, Greta and Sophia. In his free time, Michael still enjoys hopping on the drum kit, and finding peace in the quiet of nature, often retreating to his cabin or casting a line into a mountain stream.